Closure fastener



Patented Jan. 4, 1949 CLOSURE FASTENER Lofui's Dyson, New Britain, Conn; Beatrice N Dyson, adininistratrix of said Loriis M. Dyson,

deceased; ss'signo'r' to The American Hardware corporation, New Britain, Ctii'im, a corporation of Connecticut Application February 2, 1945, Serial No. 575,816

1 Claim.

This invention relates to the class of swinging shackle type of closure features, commonly known as draw pull catches, which are provided for securing the lids, 01'' covers, or separable members to cases, boxes, trunks and similar containers;

The object of the present conception is the provision of a iastener of the class mentioned which will be strong, rugged, and durable, that can be quickly engaged and released, and that is partichla-rly adapted for tightly securing against accidental release the covers of boxes designed for receiving and transporting relatively heavy articles g In the accompanying drawings V I figure 1 shows a front view of a fastener that embodies the invention. W

Figure 2 is a side view of the fastener.

Figure 3 is a section of the fastener on the plane indicated by the dotted line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 shows a front view of a modified construction of the fastener.

Figure 5 is a side view thereof.

I The fastener illustrated has a catch with a curved cam face I and a recessed pocket 2. This member usually is attached to the part of the container which to be opened.

The shackle which is ordinarily attached to the container proper has an attachment plate 3 with an upwardly curved neck 4 that has cutwardly extending trunn-ions 5 which fit loosely in openings in the walls 6 of the swinging member of the shackle; for pivoting said swinging movement to the attachment plate. The forward end of the swinging shackle member is curved andpositioned so as to engage with the cam surface of the catch when the fastener is being closed and held closed. At the read end, the swinging member has a handle 1 by which it may be swung open and closed.

The loop member of the fastener illustrated consists of two U-shaped portions comprising links 8 and 9 on each side of the swinging member. These links extend parallel with each other in sliding contact, the rear ends of the links 8 being connected with the walls of the swinging member by a pivot bar l0, and the forward ends of the links 9 being connected together by a catch engaging rod ll. Encircling the contacti'ng section of the links 8 and 9 are coil springs l2. These springs are relatively stiff and are retained between compression between lugs l3 projecting from the forwa'rd ends of the links 8, and lugs 14 projecting from the rear ends of the links 9.

- 2 Upon lifting the handle and swinging the swinging member of the shackle'for'ward; the forwarden'd of the loop will be carriedbeyond the catch so that the rod II can be entered into the catch pocket 2. With the loop end in the pocket, when the handle is turned back and down, the swinging member is forced back by the ehgagement of its end with the caiii Surface er the catch. This movement bf the swinging member shortens the distance between the lugs IS- ll on the loop links and puts the springs under such tension that the loop cannot be disengaged from the catch until the swivel member is lifted.

In the modified construction illustratedin Fig. 4, the catch and the shackle member are shaped and related substantially the same as previously described. The loop member is slightly difierent in design but has a similar action; and 'flliictibhz The modified loop comprises a link IS on each side of and pivoted to a wall of the swinging member by a hooked end [6 which fits loosely in an opening in said wall, the free end of the link having an arm II. The other link I8 of this loop has an end that passes freely through r the Said arm l1 and has a fiked lug l9 that ex"- tends into and isfree to move back and forth in a slot 20 in the link 15.

The coiled springs 2] in this form are tensioned between the arms I! in one link and the lugs 79 on the other link was tooperate to shorten the links by moving them longitudinally with relation to each other. I

In both the forms that are described the maps are comprised of associated links movable longitudinally with relation to "each other, and. in both the links are shortened and the springs compressed for holding the loops engaged with the catches, when theshackle members are in locked position. Such simple springs are strong and durable as they are under compression when in active service. The springs are flexible and will yield snfllcie'ntly to Ineet honditions arisingiroin any variation of the distances of the attaching holes of the catch and shackle members, for example, different distances due to variation of the thickness of gaskets used to water proof boxes.

As the swinging member of the shackle is swung down with the loop pin" in the catch pocket,

the pivot bar H) of the loop links, which is pivoted to the swinging member, passes the axis of connection of that member to the base and causes the springs to securely lock the map pin in the catch. As the loop links are longitudinally extensible and subject to the tension of the springs, the

necessary Iocking force is assured without undue strain on the parts of the fastener or the structure to which the fastener is attached.

I claim:

1. A closure fastener which comprises a catch, a shackle member, and a loop pivoted thereto and extending to engage, said catch; said loop comprising a pair of oppositely disposed U-shaped portion with the side extensions thereof in sliding relation at opposite sides of said shackle member, and spring means between the ends of and abutting said extensions for urging said portions to shorten said loop and thereby draw the catch towards the shackle member.

2. A fastener of the character described which comprises a catch, a shackle member, and a loop carried by said shackle member to engage said catch; said loop consisting of a portion rotatably mounted in said shackle and having extensions at each side of the shackle, a catch engaging portion having extensions parallel to the extensions of the first portion, and spring means surrounding said extensions to retain said portions in operative relation and urge them to shorten said loop for drawing said catch towards said shackle.

3. A fastener of the character described comprising a catch, a shackle having an attachment member, a swinging member pivoted to said attachment member and. an expandable loop pivoted to said swinging member and extending therefrom to engage said latch; said loop comprising a pair of juxta-positioned relatively movable link portions at each side of said shackle, a helical spring surroundin said links to retain themin relatively slidable relation and connected with the opposite ends of said links to urge said ends for shortening said loop drawing said catch towards said shackle.

4. A closure fastener of the character described comprising a catch member, a shackle having an attachment plate,-a swinging member pivotally mounted thereon, and 'a loop pivotally secured to the said swinging member and extending therefrom for engagement with said latch; said loop having one end pivotally secured to said swinging member and the opposite end adapted to engage said latch, the side portions of said loop being formed by a pair of relatively movable link portions ateach side of said swinging member, abutment means at opposite ends of each of said link portions, and aspring surrounding each pair of link portions and engaging said abutment means for urging the link portions to shorten said loop and thereby draw the catch towards the shackle.

5. A closure fastener of the character described comprising -a catch and an associated shackle member having a loop pivotally secured thereto and extending for engagement with said catch; said loop comprising a link extending along and pivotally attached to each side of said shackle, a 'U-shaped member engageable with said catch and having the. leg portions thereof parallel to said links, abutments at the ends of said links and legs, and spring means between said abutments acting to shorten said loop to thereby draw said catch towardsthe shackle.

6. A closure fastener of the character described comprising a catch, a shackle having a swinging member and a loop pivotally secured to said shackle and extending therefrom to engage said catch; said loop being constructed of a link pivotally secured to each side of said swinging member and running parallel thereto and having a portion bent perpendicularly to each link, a U-shaped member engageable with said catch and having a leg portion at each side of said shackle extending through said link portion, an abutement at the end of each said leg portions, and a spring surrounding said leg portion and disposed between said perpendicular link portion and said abutment for urging said U-shaped portion to shorten said loop and thereby draw the catch towards said shackle.

7. A closure fastener of the character described comprising a catch, a shackle having a swinging member, and a loop on said swinging member for engaging said catch; said loop comprising a link portion at each side of said swinging member pivotally secured thereto by a hook portion extending through a hole in said swinging member,

the opposite end of said link having a perpendicularly extending arm, a U-shaped portion for engaging said catch having a leg portion at each side thereof extendin through said perpendicular arm, an abutment plate secured to the end of said leg portion and slidable in a slot in said link, and a spring between said perpendicular arm and abutment plate urging said U-shaped portion to shorten said loop and thereby draw said catch towards the shackle.

8. A device for clasping two parts together comprising a hook'fixed to one of said parts, a bracket fixed to the other of said parts, said bracket comprising a wall contacting said other of said parts and a wall extending away from said other of said parts and toward the first part and terminating .in a pair of outwardly extendingears, a lever comprising a wall parallel to the first wall of the bracket, and a pair of flanges extending at right angles thereto, said flanges being formed with notches adjacent the first wall of said lever, said first wall of said lever being formed with a bent over tongue enclosing said notches, the second wall of said bracket being disposed between said flanges, and said ears being received within said notches, a handle on said lever, means extending through said flanges, means engaging said hook, and resilient means interconnecting said last tWo named means and located on opposite sides of said lever and parallel thereto.

9. A device for clasping two parts together comprising a hook fixed to one of said parts, a bracket fixed to the other of said parts, said bracket comprising a wall contacting said other of said parts and a wall extending away from said other of said parts and toward the first part and terminating in a pair of outwardly extending ears, a lever comprising a wall parallel to the first wall of the bracket, and a pair of flanges extending at right angles thereto, said flanges being formed with notches adjacent the first wall of said lever, said first wall of said lever being formed with a bent over tongue enclosing said notches, the second wall of said bracket being disposed between said flanges, and said ears being received within said notches, a handle on said lever, a transverse pin extending through said flanges, a second pin parallel to the first pin, and resilient means interconnecting said pins and located on opposite sides of said lever, and parallel thereto, the second pin being adapted to engage said hook.

10. In a clasp, a bracket formed with outwardly extending ears, a lever comprising a top wall, and. side flanges' extending at right angles thereto, said side flanges being formed with notchesadjacent said top wall, said top wall being formed with a tongue enclosing said notches, a portion of the bracket bein received between 'said the first shaft, and spring means interconnecting r the ends of one shaft to the ends of othe other,

said springs means being parallel to one another and extending at the opposite sides of said lever.

LOUIS M. DYSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

10 Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS a1ne Date Stadel Feb. 15, 1898 Buttolph Dec. 24, 1918 Schleicher June 21, 1921 Christophel Dec. 18, 1923 Hynes Oct 27, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland June 1, 1938 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,457,985. January 4, 1949. LOUIS M. DYSON It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 38, for the Word read read rear; line 50, for section read sections; column 2, line 30, for the numeral 79 read 19; column 3, line 9, claim 1, for portion read portions; column 4, line 2, claim 6, for abutement read abutment;

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gammz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

